A pensions experts representing two major trade unions have been invited to visit the city on Friday to address a meeting of former Rolls-Royce workers.

A pensions experts representing two major trade unions have been invited to visit the city on Friday to address a meeting of former Rolls-Royce workers.

Nationally there are an estimated 29,000 ex-employees or their dependants.

The vast majority of these are in receipt of good work-based pensions which they contributed towards on the understanding that they were a form of ?deferred wages.?

But with less than 3,000 car workers left at Ansty, and only another 12,000 employed at Rolls-Royce plants in other parts of the country, fears have surfaced about the long-term security of the company scheme.

Tom Goodall, who once represented the technical staff in Coventry, said: ?The company maintains there is no reason for alarm and have agreed to keep us better informed.

?But we have to be vigilant. We have no representation on the Rolls-Royce board and the panel of people administering our pensions keeps changing.?

Mr Goodall feels the dwindling workforce and stock market conditions have only exacerbated fears and it is time to press for a voice on the board.

That?s why he and former works convener Alan Wilkins have invited two top ?pensions gurus? to the meeting at the Transport and General Workers Union hall in Short Street, Parkside, at 2pm on Friday.

One speaker will be the TGWU?s Bryan Freake and there will also be an expert representing the Amicus union.